#1595 #S951 - Spinasse, Seattle - 10/31/2011

Based on the Piedmont region, highly regarded upscale northern Italian cuisine, which lives up to it's reputation.  I had the tajarin, a long-standing favorite (delicate egg pasta with butter and sage).

1531 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122-4023 - (206) 251-7673
Est. Aug 2008 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars in this location: None known

spinasse.com - thestranger - seattlemet - seattletimes - komonews - seattleweekly - gourmet - yelp

#1594 #S950 - Cafe Lago, Seattle - 10/30/2011

A very good Italian restaurant (Peter Reinhart's “American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza" called it the best pizza in America in 2003).  It also has a small bar with limited cocktail options.  It serves thin crust pizza and a terrific looking antipasti plate that I will certainly order next time.

2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 329-8005
Est. Oct 10, 1990 - Building constructed: 1922
Previous bars at this location: None known
cafelago.com - seattletimes - bonappetit - seattlepi - yelp

#1593 #S949 - Electric Tea Garden, Seattle - 10/28/2011

 A small-ish club that caters to DJs and electronica, with an "infusion lounge that specializes in tea based cocktails and elixirs," hidden around the corner and upstairs from an artificial limb store.

1402 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 568-3972   
Est. March 10, 2007 - Building constructed: 1909
Previous bars in this location: None known
electricteagarden.com - facebook - yelp

#1592 #S948 - Pecado Bueno, Seattle - 10/27/2011

Pecado Bueno ("Sin Well") serves pretty standard American Mexican dishes, with a bit more quality than average and a good deal more personality.  They have a salsa bar, but to taste the Diablo sauce you need to sign their "Unconditional Waiver and Hold-Harmless Stipulation" where the customer agrees to "hold the ownership, management and employees of Pecado Bueno utterly without blame for any discomfort, pain, first, second or third degree burns, ruined mascara, and/or loss of self-esteem and/or respect from one's peers resulting from ingestion"

The owner is one of the founders of Taco del Mar, the margaritas are affordable and drinkable, and the food stresses local, organic, sustainable ingredients.

  
4307 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 457-8837
Est. Oct 2011 - Building constructed: 1952
pecadobueno.com - facebook - seattleweekly - thrillist - williamson.ws - fremontuniverse - eater - yelp

#1591 - Afriq, Skyway WA - 10/25/2011

Afriq is a night time place.  It opens at 9pm.  It's a Kenyan-owned dance club, with food and drinks from across Africa.  The best nights to go are Saturdays, which are reggae nights.

12619 Renton Ave S, Skyway, WA 98178-3712 - (206) 772-6300
Est. Feb 2008
thedjpeter.com

#1590 - Roman Casino, Seattle - 10/25/2011

The unincorporated Skyway area, just south of the Seattle city limits and an on-again/off-again subject of annexation by surrounding communities (Seattle, Tukwila, Renton), is not quite like anyplace else in the greater Seattle area.  It is probably the most ethnically and racially diverse large area -- one of the few where whites a (slight) minority.

The Roman Casino is one of those places that accentuates both the diversity and the ethnic cohesion of the area.  The workers seem split evenly between white, black and Asian, while the customers appear about 95% Vietnamese, and the whole is surrounded by the ersatz simulacra of famous Roman art, including a mini Michelangelo's "David" in a fountain.

 The cheesy decor does not lead to cheap food and drinks.  The mostly Vietnamese and Chinese menu ranges from $50 for lobster-based dishes, to $40 for crab-based plates, appetizers $9-$17, standard American Chinese dishes (beef with broccoli) $12-$18.  The drinks are pretty much what you would expect.  The casino is housed in a sort of shopping center structure, with a Pawn Pros store conveniently located around the corner.

11829 Renton Ave S, Skyway, WA 98178-3723 - (206) 772-7524

#1589 - Skyway Park Bowl and Casino, Seattle - 10/25/2011

A cheesy mini casino, bowling, a lounge serving cheap, strong drinks and chicken and waffles.  What else could you possibly want?  (How about a web site that is "Copywrite 2011"?)

11819 Renton Ave S, Skyway, WA 98178 - (206) 772-1220

skywayparkbowl.com -  facebook - yelp